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North Long Lake Fishing Reports


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I had just got done drilling my holes & cleaning them out. Put a nice size sucker minnow on a set line (yellow walleye snell hook with green glow beed) 2 ft off bottom. Within the first minute the rattle wheel went - pulled up a 27" walleye (released it)- caught at 4:15 pm. The only thing I caught today, but it was awesome!

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  • 3 months later...
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  • centralmnguy

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Hello Fellas, it's been awhile since I've been on here; Probably around late ice.

Walleye fishing has been pretty good for us on North Long this year. We only have been going out around the full moon phases. We troll raps with line counters in anywhere from 5-10 ft and try and stay out of the weeds. If you haven't tried fishing a full moon, I would definitely recommend it. Buy a crank bait rod with a line counting reel and I would also recommend buying the crappy rap clip on line counter because it comes with a great dive chart book that will tell you how much line to let out to get your rap to a specific depth. The other option is buying the trolling bible, but it's like 50 bucks and there are way too many brands of crank baits. The clip on line counter and dive chart is only 18 bucks, but the clip on counter sucks..they are really hard to use in the dark. We usually head out right at sun down and the full moon will usually rise shortly there after. Speed can make a huge difference and I would try 1.8-2.2 mph to begin with and if that isn't successful, try a bit faster. It's an absolute blast when they strike and we've had luck gettin some real nice walters. We're headed out tonight around 9:15, it should be a good bite. I don't think we've ever been skunked on a full moon. Give it a try and let me know how it works.

Has anyone been lindy riggin in deep water? We want to give it a shot, but its been tough to get out due to work being so busy. I own a property management company and you know how that goes this time of year in the Brainerd Lakes area.

Good Luck Fishin Fellas. I want to see some North Long Lake reports soon!

Til another day

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which property company do you own ??

just curious ??

sealcoating business here in the brainerd lakes area

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  • 2 weeks later...

I heard the walleyes are starting to pick up, i have caught a few on the south side but not like i hear the rest of the lake is doing. any one have any idea where to go?

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I was out last nite fishing bass they bit well, Got into a nice school of eyes 15-18" in 7 feet inside weed edge they where eating a dt7, put on a northland standup fireball and a gulp minnow and started whacken em!

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That is a great idea when trolling cranks..I've always wanted to focus on an area that the walters were congregated and hitting the cranks and then anchor or drift and cast slip bobbers or the fireball stand ups. I have to get some of those gulp minnows so they are always on hand when this situation arises. Thanks for the tip Swampbuck.

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  • 4 months later...

Anybody been out to Merrifield Bay in the last day? Any ice depth/condition reports?

Monday it was 3 1/2" out to weedline...didn't venture out any further than that it was lookin kinda shady!

Thanks

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Hello...this thing working? Don't everybody talk at once now!

Was out sunday for a bit after game...caught 3 nice walleyes in 18 fow. (two 14" & a 17") About 4-5 inches of good ice & some frozen slush on top.

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Drove thru the landing tuesday and there were people out quite a ways with some permanents and wheelers. I didn't check the ice cause I had the kids with. I suspect it's putting on some good ice this week and we'll start seeing some bigger houses out there come friday or saturday!! When I finally get out there to check I'll let ya know.

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Fished a couple miles out the last two days. 8 inches of ice with 6 clear ones. Fishing was a bit slow, but every once in a while they would bite. Graphed a lot, but man they seem to be tight lipped this year. Probably just out of practice. Water seems to be pretty stirred up on area lakes, maybe this is causing negative fish.

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I have been out last 2 nights...lastnight was nothing but perch. Tonight I iced a few walleyes. Nicest was 17". They were hitting a small buckshot tipped with a minnow head & very light jigging. Had to let them suck on it for a minute or 2 before setting the hook. Bobber & dead stick with plain hook didn't get any bites. 17' to 21' fow.

Good Luck!

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was out on the east side of the big lake and had 13 inches of ice caught 3 wallys 14-17in 21fow. fished the west side this morning and had 8 inches of ice caught 1 17in fish same depth. be safe this ice isnt good enough to drive on yet.

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I'm on the Merrifield end also. I measured 10 inches today with tape measure. That top stuff is so hard it as good as the stuff under it now. I have about an inch or two of the white stuff. Too cold and windy, I chickened out about 11 this morning.

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I measured 12" tonight on the bay. Been catching a few here & there on glow jigs & buckshots tipped with minnow head. 18" to 24" fow. Right before dark.

Good Luck!

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Dismal-dismal-dismal weekend on the Merrifield end. Question-why is it that every person that gets a new portable thinks they have to pull right in the middle of a bunch of houses and start drilling holes at 4:30/dusk? Is there anything more annoying?

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Had good fishing tonight on North Long mid lake structure in 24 fow. Fished a spot that hasn't been touched yet since freeze and the walleyes were abundant and aggressive. Rattlin Flyer Spoon worked best and when that stopped working I switched to a red glow forage spoon, 1/16 oz. and that did the trick until about 6:15 and they shut off, but they were still there. Also gave the lindy darter a try and had no luck at all. Caught a few on bobber and plain hook/rainbow chub too. Size wasn't anything to brag about (12"-17"), but had a blast.

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The old lady out fished me yesterday. We ended up with 6 walleyes...only 3 keepers 12"- 16". All were caught on set lines with yellow hooks & green glow beads. 18-20 fow. Golden shiners & fatheads. The bite shut off at dark.

Good Luck!

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The wife & I had fun tonight out on Merrifield bay. She caught a 21" walleye & I pulled up a 17" & 15" walleye...we also threw back a handful of walleyes under 12".

All were on set rattle wheel lines in 18 to 20 fow. Using yellow hooks & green glow beads. Foot off bottom. Golden shiners & rainbows. 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

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Had another decent night on the bay...caught a 17" & 15" walleye right at dark. The 17" was caught jigging a red stop sign tipped with a shiner head. Had to bring it up off the bottom slowly & let them follow up 2-3 feet before they would bite. Threw back 4 that were under 12".

No crappies...some nice perch!

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Had another awesome night on the bay...caught a 24", 17" & 15" walleye tonight. Also lost a big one that I got up to the hole 3 times but it kept taking drag back out & finally snapped the line on the third attempt up to the hole. All have been caught on set lines & golden shiners foot off bottom.

I got 14" of ice as well Remy26.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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